Registry system and register therefor



. R. M. HOPKINS. REGISTRY SYSTEM AND REGISTER THEREFOR. APPLICATION mm JUNE 12, 1919. RENEWED APR. 28. 1921.

1. 394 834 I Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

SSHEET [hhi' 4SHEET 'IIIIIIIIIII4 v.

88 INVENTOR v T /6 0W A TTOHNEY R. M. HOPKINS.

REGISTRY SYSTEM AND REGISTER THEREFOR. APPLICATION man JUNE 12, 1919. RENEWED APR. 28. 1921.

1,394,834. Patented 00+" 25, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E88 INVENTOR 19f 2/ ATTORNEY R. M. HOPKINS. REGISTRY SYSTEM AND REGISTER THEREFOR. I APPLICATION men 1umz12, 1919. RENEWED APR. 28,1921.

1,394,834. Patented Oct. 25, 1921 .4 SREETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY R.. M. HOPKINS.

REGISTRY S YSTE M'AND REGISTER THEREFOR APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1919. RENEWED APR. 28, 1921.

1,394,834. 0 Patented 061:. 25, 1921.

(suns-sun 4.

" E88 INVENTOR A TTORNE Y UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD M. HOPKINS, 0E RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN DISTRICT TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

REGISTRY SYSTEM AND REGISTER THEREFOR;

Application filed June 12 1919, Serial N 0. 303,632. Renewed April 28, 1921.

T 0 all 10 Ito-m it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD M. HorxINs, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a Registry System and Register Therefor, of which the specification.

My invention relates to improvements in watchinens registry systems, by which term vI mean systems in which the visits of watch men to certain stations which they are supposed to visit regularly, are registered, and embodies improvements in the system for the same purpose set forth in the application of C. C. Johnson, Sr., No. 209,279, filed Dec. 28, 1917. According to the said Johnson system, the watchman is provided with a so-called box containinore istr 'mech anism intended to be actuated'byv a push button which the watchman may press each time he reaches a station which he is supposed to visit; but this registry mechanism is normally locked, and cannot be actuated, except and until the watchman applies a certain portion of his box to a key device, or conditioning device, of which there is one at each station-to be visited. IVhen the box has been so applied to a key device (preferably, means are provided whereby on each occasion onlyone particular key device may be so used) then the push button may be actuated and the visit of the watchman to that station thereby registered. The several key devices are preferably provided with means whereby they are differentiated one from another, and the mechanism of the box is provided with corresponding differentiating mechanism of such nature that actuation of the registering mechanism of the box at one station conditions that mechanism for release upon application to the next key device of the series, and upon application tothe said next key device only; In this way the watchman is compelled to visit the several stations in regular order, and cannot continue to actuate his registering mechanism if he omit any station in making his tour, or if he visit the stations out of order. When the watchman reaches the end of his tour he may connect suitable transmitting mechanism within his box to a suitable circuit or alternativel may connect his box to suitable stationary Specification-of Letters Patent.

following is a Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Serial No. 465,249.

, tour.

If the key devices of the several stations to be visited may be divided into groups of a relatively small number each, in which groups the characteristics by which each key device of the group is differentiated from all the others of that group may be repeated, some other feature being provided to differentiate all of the key devices of any one group from all of the key devices of all the other groups, then the construction of the said key devices may be simplified; and, what is still more important, so may the construction of the locking device of the box itself be simplified, and at the same time it is possible to adapt the box for registering visits to a very much greater number of stations than would otherwise be practicable.

My invention consists in means whereby key devices so arranged in groups, with individual differentiation within each group and differentiation between groups, may be employed in a registry system such as referred to; in improved means whereby the watchman may actuate his registry mechanism once only at each visit to any one key device; and in various other features, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims' The object of my invention is to improve and simplify the key devices and watchmens registry apparatus of registry systems such as referred to. Other objects, more detailed in nature, will appear hereafter.

I will now proceed to describe my inven tion with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating one embodiment thereof, and will then proceed to point out the novel features in claims. 'In said drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation ofthe 6 showing a detail elevation, on a plane parallel to that of Fig. 5, of the ratchet device for actuating the registering mechanism of the box, Fig. 7 a perspective elevation of the same device, Flg. 8 a further perspectlve elevation of the same device with certain parts in a different position, Fig. 8 a de} tail view of a portion of cam 19, Fig. 9 a more or less diagrammatic view showing the 7 break wheel and pens of the transmitter of whicheach key-device is provided.

, a'notched lockwheel 15 any tumblers 10-- the box, and associated'parts, together with diagrammatic representations of a plug and socket'by which the pens may be connected to altransmitting' circuit; and Fig. 10 is a detail sectional elevation showing the trans- 'mitter gear train and associated parts.

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective elevation of a portion of the mechanismfor winding the driving spring of the transmitter; l2 a detail perspective elevation of the automatic resetting device of the registry mech-f anism :F 1g. 13 is a detail sectional GlQVHtlOEl of a' portion of the registry mechanism; and Fig. 14 a circuit diagram.

In the drawings, A designates a key-device, "or watchmans box conditioning device, such as referred to, and B the watchmans box'or' register to be carried by the watchmanand by'him engaged to each key-device in turn. For insuring proper relative engagement of the boxwith each key-device, any suitable means may be provided; the particulararrangement for the purpose shown consisting of tubular sockets B" on the box adapted to receive pins A? with As to anyone box'and corresponding series of keydevices, these pins A and sockets 13 do not constitute part of the means for differentiating one key device from another; but of' course each, box and corresponding series of key-devices may have a different arrangement of pins A and sockets B Each key-device A comprises a plurality of what may be termed key-shanks, 1, with ends'suit-able for engaging the ends of corresponding levers or tumblers 10 of the box and for lifting out of engagement with which may be in engagement with that lock- -wheel. The positions of the notches of this wheel, and the arrangement of the key-, shanks of the various key devlces are such,

relatively, that for any one position of wheel 15'only one certain key-device of each group or tour will release all ofthe tumblers 10 from that wheel. From this it follows a that application of the box toany proper key-device of a' tour, and operation of the registry mechanism'ofthe box thereat, conditionsthe box for application to and operation at the next key-device of the series, and that next key-device only. In other words, the watchman: must visit each "station in turn, and in proper-order, and at each station must correctly; operate the registry mechanism of his box, else he cannot fully engage his box with the next key-device of the series or operate the registry mechanism thereat. V I

The watchman, having correctly engaged his box with a proper key-device, registers his visit to the station and to the key-device thereat by operating the registry mechanism of the box, to which end, he presses in a button 17, normally held out-by a-spring l8. The-shank of this 'push-biittoncarries a pivoted and spring-actuated ratchet-cam 19, a pin 20 of which is adapted to engage the teeth of. a ratchet wheel 21, on the shaft 22 of wheel 15, and drivinglyconne'cted thereto. As will "be explained presently means are provided whereby. improper manipulation of the mechanism of the box by means of the push-button 17 is prevented, and

whereby the watchman is compelled'to give a full stroke to that push-button each time he operates it, else no registration is effected and the boxgcannot be operated at .the'next station. 7

Motion is communicated, from shaft 22,

through gears 23 and 24, to a shaft 26-and thence to a notched lock-wheel '16 on shaft 20 and connected-to saidshaft by a key 25' which enforces rotation of wheel 16' with 1 that shaft, while permitting longitudinal motionofthe wheel on'said shaft. In order that the mechanism of the box may not be operated unless, at each "presentation to a key-device A, the boxB isthru'st properly and to the full extent against that keydevice, and in order to prevent operation of the registry mechanism except in accordance with'the group-differentiation of the key-devices, a locking-bar 27 is provided,

among't-he, lock-levers or tumblers 10'of the box, but adapted to have a longitudinal motion j and this bar slides through the notches of wheell6, but is provided with a notch 28 which, when in registry with that wheel, permits rotary advance thereof as the pushbutton 17 is pressed in.' In other words, in order that the push-button17 may be pressed in and the registry mechanism operated, at

each station,'not only mustall of the tumblers 10 be lifted clear of wheel 15,-but also the notch "28 must be in registry withfwheel V 16 and this permits automatic adaptation of the box to group-differentiation of the various groups of key-devices, since wheel 16 occupies a different position, axially, for each separate group of key-devices. At its outer end, bar 27 is provided with a finger 29; and each key-device, A, is provided with a corresponding finger 29, adapted to engage the end of finger 29 when the box B is properly applied to such key-device. The fingers 29 of all of the key-devices of any one group or tour, are of the same length (which length is different from that of the fingers 29 of all of the other groups or tours) and therefore when the box is properly applied to the several key-devices of any one group or tour, the bar 27 will in each case be moved to the same position, longitudinally, and to a position which will bring its notch 28 into registry with wheel 16, provided the watchman be making the proper tour, 2'. 6., provided the axial posi tion of wheel 16 corresponds to the length of the fingers 29 of the key-devices of the tour which the watchman is then making. Means for the automatic shifting of the position ofwheel 16, axially, at the end of each tour, will be described presently.

Bar 27 has a pivotal, sliding engagement with the pivot-pin 10 of the lock-levers or tumblers 10, and at its inner end is pivoted to a lever 27*, having a spring 27 whereby,

as soon as box 13 is withdrawn from any one of the key-devices, bar 27 is thrust out, so a to bring the body of that bar in engagement with one of the notches of wheel 16, so preventing rotation of that wheel. As explained. hereafter, the motion of lever 27 is utilized for the operation of a species of escapement to prevent more than one effective. actuation of the registry mechanism for each proper application of the box to a keydevice. I

It is intended that the watchman, from time to time, (usually and preferably when he has completed a tour), shall transmit a characteristic signal to some central office or point from which supervision is exercised or. at which a record is made of his signals; thereby in effect, registration of the watchmans visits to the several stations is transferred from the box to the central station. To the end thatsuch signals may be transmitted, the box B is provided with transmitting mechanism which, conveniently, may be similar to that of an ordinary so-called messenger call box, comprising a signal wheel 11 with suitable contact pens 12 and wires leading therefrom to a plug 39 adapted to be inserted into a contact socket C of which sockets there will be one at the end of each tour, usually, (though if desired the sockets at the ends of some of the tours may be omitted), these sockets be ing connected by suitable circuits to the central supervising or recording station.

The transmitter may be understood to include the usual driving spring 13, arranged to be wound by a handle 14, also the usual train through which that spring may drive signal wheel 11, also the usual regulating device. But in this transmitter, the handle let is normally free, and if turned before the registry mechanism has reached a condition corresponding to the last station of a tour, turning such handle 14 does not wind the spring. The shaft 86 of the handle 1a is provided with a pivoted pawl, 36", carried on an arm 36, and adapted to engage a tooth, 36, attached to the gear, 36, of the spring-driven gear train 0' h transmitter; such pawl, 36, being norrheld out of-engagement with tooth spring 86 hen the last s ation of particular tour has been r ached the gear will have reached, in its rotation, a position such that an arm 2& carried by it will engage pawl 86 and move it into engagement with tooth 36 It follows, therefore, that when the watchman has reached the last station in any particular tour, after having visited in regular order all of the other stations in that tour and operated his box thereat, he may apply his plug 39 to the contact socket C at that last station, and may then operate his transmitter by means of the handle 14, and so send in the proper signal.

As previously explained, this watrhmans box is intended to be used by a watchman traversing a plurality of tours, 2'. 0., groups of stations, in regular order. The lrey devices A of corresponding stations of the several tours are the same, except as to the length of the fingers 29, each tour having fingers 29 ofa particular length which distinguishes the key devices of that tour from the key devices of all of the other tours. The box comprises means for adapting-its mechanism, automatically, for the key oevices of the tour next to be visited, as the visit to the last key device of a tour is made. To this end, wheel 16 is mounted to be moved axially along its shaft, as already stated, and for so shifting it, a pivoted shifting lever 16 is provided, said lever having a pin-engagement with a groove in the hub of wheel 16, and having also a pin 16 in engagement with a worm 16 on a shaft 16 driven by gears 16 from the transmitter gear train; said gearsbeing so proportioned and arranged that one complete transmitting operation rotates the worm sutficiontly to move wheel 16 axially to the position v'hich that wheel should occupy, with represently, when the watchman has reached through the space of one tooth.

the last station of the last tour, and at that station has operated histransmitter, shifti .been effected, and to keep that pin out of engagement with thatratchet wheel if the button 17 be pressed in again before the he device and the box have been disengaged. To this end, the cam 19 carrying pin 20 is pivoted at 19*, and has a cam-edge 19*, adapted to coact with a pin 19, also camedges 19 and 19 (the. latter beveled as shown in Fig. 8) adapted to coact with a spring-actuated pin 19, Then, in normal operation, (the parts being then in the positions shown. in F ig..6), button 17 is pressed in, engagement of cam-edge 19 with 'pin'19 causes cam 19 to turn about its pivot, bringing pin 20 into engagement with a tooth of ratchet-wheel 21. These teeth are hookshaped, as shown, and once the pin 20 is engaged with one of said teeth it will be held in engagement therewith during further inward movement of button 17; which movement results in advancing the ratchet wheel At any time during this inward movement of the button 17,- and until that movement is complete, release of the button 17 will permit-that button to move out again and will permit the parts of the registry mechanism to returntothe positions occupied before the button 17 was pressed in, no registration having been effected; but once the button 17 has been pressed in completely, pawl 21? engages a further tooth of ratchet wheel 21,

from ratchet wheel 21.

and then, when button 17 is released, and moves out again, a spring 19 moves cam 19 about its pivot so as to disengage pin 20 Before the outward motion of button 17 is complete, it is arrestedby engagement of a pin 17 carried, by the shank of that button, with a spring-actuated tooth 27 carried by the, lever- 27 connected to bar 27. lVhen button 17 is pressed'inward from its extreme outer position, this tooth 27 yields topermit passage of pin 17"-; but during the return of said button 17 said tooth engages said pin 17 and so arrests said button 17 with the cam 19 in such a position that if the button 17 be pressed in again pin 20 will not engage ratchet wheel 21. r This is the position of the parts shown in Fig. 8. In order that pin 20 may engage ratchet wheel 21 it is necessary that cam 19 be moved-so that pin 19 engages cam edge 19 This cannot o cur until'the box'is pulledaway from that key-device with which it has been in engagement, whereupon bar 27 will 7 move to the left (of Figs. land 18) and the consequent motion oflever 27 carries the tooth 27 out of engagement with pin 17 a (as shown particularly in Fig. 7 permitting button 17 to continue its outward movement; during which movement, beveled cam edge 19 depresses pin 19 cam 19 then passing over the top of pin 19 until that pin, rising again, engages'cam edge 19, The

parts arethen in normal position, and are ready for a further registration operation when, and only when, the box has been applied to the key device next in series, so moving bar 27 into position torelease wheel 16,

raising from wheel 15 the tumblers pre- 80 I viously engaged therewith, and moving arm 27 inward so that its tooth-27 is in position to engage pin 17 7 It will be seen that tooth 27 and pin a and associated parts constitute a species of escapement, operated by engagement with r and disengagement of the box from. 'the various key devices, and operating to permit connection of the actuatingbuttonj 17to the registering mechanism proper once, and once only, for each engagement of thebox.

with any particular key device.

Lock-wheel 15'is advanced, stepby step, against the torsion of a spring 22 connected to the shaft 22 of said wheel 15. 7 When the wheel 15 has been advanced through a full cycle there is, opposite pin 20, a blank space 21 (see Fig. 6) on ratchet wheel 21. Pressing inbutton 17 at this point does not cause further advance of the. registering mechanism, therefore, but: does, no harm., The watchman, having now reached the end of. the tour over which hehas beenpassing, should plug into the signal circuit by means of'his plug'39, ifthere bea contact socket 7 C at that point, and having done so, or, inany case, should operate his transmitter handle 14. The signal wheel 11 of the trans- ;mitter, in its consequent rotation, will engage, by means of its pin 11*"-, the tail 21 of pawl 21, so disengaging that pawl from ratchet wheel21?, and permitting spring 22 to turn wheels 21. and 15 back to starting position. During the operationof the transmitter, worm shafts 16 will be rotated, so causing shifting lever 16 to move wheel 16 one step to the left (of Fig. 1), so conditioning the box for registrations at the key devices of the next tourof the series.

Provision is made for returning the shift ing lever 16", and with it the wheel 16, to

initial position, when the end of the last tour has been reached. To this end lever 16 is provided with a lip 16 (see Fig. 12) which will be engaged and lifted by a pin 16 on 1 30 one of the gears 16% when the transmitter is operated at the end of the last tour of the series. Thereby shifting lever 16 is disengaged from the worm 16, and is returned to initial position by a spring 16, being arrested at the proper point byan adjustable stop 16 and when so arrested, it drops into engagement with the, worm 16. In so returning, the lever 16 carries wheel 16 back to starting position.

The return means just described is operative when the last tour contains the same number of stations as do the preceding tours. In some cases, however, it is convenient that the last tour contain a less number of stations than do the preceding tours. For such cases, the box is provided with additional return mechanism, as follows: The locking wheel 15 is provided with a pin 15 which may be located at one or another of various positions on saidwheel, according to the number of stations in the last tour. During the rotation of wheel 15 as the watchman passes from station to station in each tour, the pin 15 is caused, at a certain point in such rotation, to engage the slot 15 of a pivoted cam 15 and so to move said cam about its pivot; after which, if the wheel 15 be advanced still further, the pin 15 moves out of engagement with said cam. On the return motion of wheel 15, pin 15 returns cam 15 to first position. During all of the tours except the last tour of the series, these motions of cam 15 are without effect; but during the lateral motion of shiftin lever 16 as the watchman passes from tour to tour, said lever carries with it laterally a trip member 15 (see particularly Fig. 12) which is movable axially as well as rotatably; and at the beginning of the last tour, this trip member 15 is in the path of the cam 15. The parts being in this position, when cam 15 is actuated by pin 15, said cam actuates trip 15 (this will occur while the watchman is registering his visit to the last station of the last tour), causing said trip to raise a pivoted lever 15 having a horizontal member 15 engaged by a lug 16 of the shift lever 16 whereby said shift lever 16 is raised out of engage ment with the worm-16, and is returned by spring 16 against stop 16 said shift lever being held raised by trip 15 and member 1515 until, the transmitter of the box having been actuated at the end of the last tour, a pin 16 on one of the gears 16 trips a latch 16 depending from lever 15 and which, by engagement with a post 16, has hitherto been holding lever 15 elevated. The shift lever 16 then drops into engagement with the worm.

Latch 16 is raised by lever 15 when the latter is raised by trip 15 and thereby a pin 16 projecting from the latch engages pawl. 36 and moves the same into position to engage tooth 36 so that when the transmitter handle 1% is turned the transmitter spring may be wound. Lever 15 has a tail which, as shown particularly in Fig. 12, lifts any of the tumblers 10' which may be in engagement with wheel 15 when that lever 15 lifted at the end of the last tour.

To further facilitate the understanding of the mechanism or" the box, and its operation, I will describe briefly what happens as the box is used. As shown particularly in Fig. 141-, the several key devices A are arranged in a plurality of groups, each key device representing, in that figure, a particular station which the watchman is supposed to visit; and it i convenient for descriptive purposes, and other reasons, to regard each such group of stations as constituting a separate tour. At the end station of one or more of these tours a plugsocket C is located, connected to a circuit D leading to a relay E by which the signals may be received. If it be desired that the signals be recorded, this relay may operate a recorder F.

Suppose the mechanism of the box be in its initial condition in all respects, and that the watchman approaches the first station of'the first tour. He presses his box against the key device of that station; that is to say, he forces the sockets B of that box over the pins A of the first key-device, and in so doing causes the ends of the keyshanks 1 of that key device to engage the ends of the levers or tumblers 10 of the lockin mechanism of the box, so raising clear of notched wheel 15 any of such tumblers which may have been in engagement with notches of said wheel. At the same time, the finger 29 of the key device engages the corresponding finger 29 of lock-bar 27 and presses said lock-bar inward until its notch 28 registers with notched wheel 16; said notched wheel 6 being now in the position corresponding to the first tour, and the fingers 29- of the key-devices of the first tour being all of a length to cause the notch 28 to register with the wheel 16 when the latter is in the first tour position.

The box being new fully engaged with the first key device, the watchman presses in the button 17, and the pin 20 carried by the cam 19 engages a tooth of ratchet wheel 21 and advances said wheel (wheels 16 and 15 now being free to turn) through the space of one tooth, whereupon locking pawl 21 engages another tooth of ratchet wheel 21*, preventing return of wheels 21 and 21 upon release of button 17. Until button 17 has been pressed in far enough to cause pawl 21 to engage with a new tooth of wheel 21*, release of the button 17 would simply permit its return, and with it the parts of the ratchet mechanism actuated by it; but after button 17 has been pressed in far enough so that pawl 21 engages anew tooth of wheel 21, return of the button 17 causes pin 20 to disengage that tooth of wheel 21 with which it has been in engagement, cam 19 moving out under the influence of spring 19 During the return movement of button 17 its pin 1'7 engages the claw 27 (see Fig. 8, showing the parts in that position) and thereby the outward movement of button 17 is arrested with the cam 19 in such position that cam edge 19 is not in engagement with pin 19 Therefore, if, with the parts in such position, button 17 be pressed in again, pin 20 will not engage a tooth of ratchet wheel 21, and such inward motion of the button will have no effect on the registry mechanism. In a word, the watchman can actuate his box once only at each station he visits.

The registration-of the visit to the first station having been completed, the watchman disengages his box from the key device of the first station, and moves on to the second station of the first tour. By the advance of wheel 15, the box has been conditioned for actuation upon engagement with the key device of that second station, and by such second key device only. By the withdrawal of the box from the first key device, lock-bar27 has been permitted to move out, thereby engaging with a slot of wheel 16, so preventing operation of the registering mechanism, while pin 1'7 is disengaged by claw 27, the claw moving to the position shown in Fig. 7, button 17 being thereby permitted to move out to its normal position.

When the watchman reaches the second station of the first tour, he engages his box with the key device of that station, and lock-bar 27 is moved in untilits notch 28 registers with wheel 16. At the same time. the tumblers 10 in engagement with wheel 15 are lifted out of such engagement. watchman then presses in button 17, and registers his visit to such second station, wheel 15 advancing so that the box is 1011111- tioned for influence by the third key device. and by that third key device only. The box is then disengaged from the second key device, and the watchman proceeds to the third station, where the operations above mentioned are repeated. When the watchman has reached the last station of the first tour. pin 20 is opposite a blank space of ratchet wheel 21, and actuation of button 17 causes no further advan e of wheels 15 and But while the box is in engagement with the key device of this last station, the Watchman operates his transmitter handle 1 1. Arm 245 of gear 24; is now holding pawlr36 (Fig. 11) in engagement with claw 36, and therefore rotation of' handle 14; and shaft 36'causes the winding of transmitter spring 13;; therefore, upon release ofhiLUClle it,

The

the spring 13 will cause the operation 01 the transmitter mechanism; and, if the watchman has connected the transmitter plug 39 to the socket C of the transmitter circuit, the characteristic signal of the box will be sent in. During the rotation of the break wheel 11 its pin 11 will trip pawl 21', per mitting ratchet wheels 21 and 21 and lock wheels 15 and 16 to return to initial position, under the influence of spring 22. Also. during the rotation of the break wheel worm 16 will be rotated, so moving wheel 16 to the left one space, thereby conditioning the box for operation at the stationsof the sec ond tour, and at such second tour stations only. V

In this manner, the box is operated at the stations of the several tours, until the. last station of the last tour is reached. Here shift-bar 16 is lifted out of engagement with worm 16, either by pin 16 on wheel 16, or by actuation of parts 15?. 15", 15, 15 and 15 and the shift-bar is restored to initial position by spring 16 carrying with it slotted wheel 16 and trip 15 and the parts are then in. condition for the watchman to begin his tours again.

It is not necessary that provision be made for the sending of a signal to the central station at the end of eachtour; for the sending of a signal from any one of'the sockets C indicates that the watchman has visited every station of the entire series since his lastvisit to the station at which such socket C is located; but as a rule it is preferable for the watchman to signal at the end of each tour. Whether or not there be a socket Coat the end of a tour, operation of the transmitter mechanism of the box at the end of that tour will condition the mechanism for the beginning of the next tour. Y

What I claim is 1. A watchmans tour. system comprising a plurality of groups of stations, each station having a conditioning device, differing from the other conditioning'devices of its group, the conditioning devices of each group having means distinguishing them from the conditioning devices of the other group or groups, in combination with a portable watchmans box adapted to be applied -to said conditioning devices successively and comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with means, aife'cted by such application to the station conditioning devices, to prevent advance of such registering means except as the box is disconnected from one station conditioning device and is applied to another station conditioning device, said watchmans box also comprising means for conditioning said registering means for infiuence by the station conditioning devices of one group only at any onetime, and for conditioning said registering means for influence by the station conditioning devices of another group after completion of a tour of one group.

2. A v: tchmans tour system comprising a plurality of groups of stations, each station having a conditioning device, differing from the other conditioning devices of its group, the conditioning devices of each group having means distinguishing them from the conditioning devices of the other group or groups, in combination with a portable Watchmans box adapted to be applied to the said conditioning devices successively and comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with means, affected by such application to the station conditioning devices, to prevent advance of such registering means except as the box is disconnected from one station conditioning device and is applied to another station conditioning device, said Watchmans box also comprising means for conditioning said registering means for influence by the station conditioning devices of one group only at any one time, and for shifting for influence by the station conditioning devices of another group after completion of tour of one such group.

3. A Watchmans tour system comprising a plurality of groups of stations, each station having a conditioning device, different from the other conditioning devices of its group, the conditioning devices of each group having means distinguishing them from the conditioning devices of the other group or groups, in combination with a portable Watchmans box adapted to be ap plied to said conditioning devices successively and comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with means, affected by such application to the station conditioning devices, to prevent advance of such registering means except as the box is disconnected from one station conditioning device and is applied to another station conditioning device, said Watchmans box also comprising means for conditioning the registering means for influence by the station conditioning devices of one group only at any one time, and for conditioning said registering means for influence by the station conditioning devices of another group after completion of a tour of one group, and means for restoring the registering means to initial condition upon the completion of all tours.

a. A. Watehmans tour signal system comprising aplurality of groups of stations, each station having a conditioning device, diflering from the other conditioning devices of its group, the conditioning devices of each group having means distinguishing them "from the conditioning devices of the other group or groups, in combination with a portable Watchmans box adapted to be applied to said conditioning devices successively and comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with means, affected by such application to the station conditioning devices, to prevent advance of such registering means except as the box is disconnected from one station conditioning device and is applied to another station conditioning device, said vatchmans box also comprising means for conditioning said registering means for in fluence by the station conditioning devices of one group only at any one time, and for conditioning said registering means for influonce by the station conditioning devices of another group after completion of a tour of one group, signal transmitting means, and means rendering the same operable only upon the completion of a predetermined tour.

5. A \vatchmans tour signal system comprising a plurality of groups of stations, each station having a conditioning device, different from the other conditioning devices of its group, the conditioning devices of each group having means distinguishing them from the conditioning devices of the other group or groups, in combination with a portable watchmans box adapted to be applied to said conditioning devices successively and comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with means, affected by such application to the station conditioning devices, to prevent advance of such registering means except as the box is disconnected from one station conditioning device and is applied to another station conditioning device, said Watchmans box also comprising means for conditioning the registering means for influence by the station conditioning devices of one group only at any one time, and for conditioning said registering means for influence by the station conditioning devices ofanother group after completion of a tolur of one group, signal transmitting means, means rendering the same operable only upon the completion of a predetermined tour, and means, operable by said signal transmitting means upon the completion of the last tour, for restoring the registering means to initial condition.

6. A watchmans tour system comprising a Watchmans box having register mechanism comprising an operating device, a look ing wheel adapted to be operated thereby, a locking bar adapted to cooperate therewith, means adapted to be engaged by external conditioning devices and comprising a plurality of locking members adapted to be positioned selectively and a notched locking Wheel having selective notches adapted to be engaged by said locking members, said solectively notched locking Wheel in driving connection with said first-mentioned looking wheel, means for returning said firstmentioned locking wheel and said notched locking wheel to initial position at the conclusion or" a predetermined number of operations, and means for moving said firstmentioned locking wheel axially upon each such return, in combination with a plurality oi groups of station conditioning devices, each comprising means for operating the locking members of said box selectively and also comprising means for adjusting to a definite position said locking bar, each group of conditioning devices arranged to adjust said locking bar to the same pos1- tion, which is different from the position to which all of the other conditioning devices adjust said locking bar.

7. A watchmans tour system comprising a watchmans box having register mechanism comprising an operating device, a locking-wheel adapted to be operated thereby, a locking bar adapted to cooperate therewith, means adapted to be engaged by external conditioning devices and comprising plurality of locking members adapted to be positioned selectively and a notched locking wheel having selective notches adapted to be engaged by said locking members, said selectively notched locking wheel in driving connection with said first-mentioned looking wheel, means for returning said firstmentioned locking wheel and said notched locking wheel to initial position at the conclusion of a predetermined number of operations, and means for moving said firstmentioned locking wheel axially upon each such return, in combination with a plurality of station conditioning devices, each comprising means for operating the locking members of said box selectively and also comprising means for adjusting to a definite position said locking bar, each group or conditioning devices arranged'to adjust said locking bar to the same position, which is a different position from that to which the conditioning devices of each other group adjust said locking bar, and means for returning said first-mentioned locking wheel axially after visitation of all conditioning devices. I

'8. A watchmans tour system comprising a Watchmans box and a plurality of groups of stations, the said stations and the said box together comprising means whereby for the proper operation of register mechanism in saidbox the watchman must visit in proper turn the several stations of one certain group,then in proper turn the several stations of another certain group, and so on until all the stations have been visited, said box. comprising automatic means whereby after the visitation of the last station of one group said register mechanism is ad justed for operation at the stations of the next group and for operation at the stations of that group only.

9. A watchmans tour system comprising a watchmans box and a plurality of groups of stations, the said stations'andthe said box together comprising means whereby for the proper operation of register mechanism in said box the watchman must visit all the several stations of one group, then all the several stations of another group, and so on, until all of the stations have been visited,

same for operation by'application of con-.

trol .means of said locking means to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices, said locking means comprising means adapting it to be influenced by such conditioning means in groups, first by one certain group ofsuch conditioning means and then by another certain group of such conditioning means. a

11. A registering device comprising register mechanism adapted to register sucessive actuations of an operating device with which that mechanism is provided, together with locking means for that register mechanism normally preventing operation thereof but adapted to be actuated to release same for operation by application of control means of said locking means to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices, said locking means comprising means adapting it to be influenced by said conditioning means in groups, first by one certain group of such conditioning means and then by another certain group of such conditioning means, and means for restoring the parts to initial condition.

12. A watchmans box comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with locking means therefor and control means adapted to be applied to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices and thereby conditioned for operation of said registering means, said box further comprising group control means whereby the mechanism is conditioned first for influence by one certain group only of such external conditioning devices and then by another certain group of such conditioning devices.

13. A watclimans box comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressiveiy together with locking means therefor and control means adapted to be applied to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices and thereby conditioned for operation of said registering means, said box further comprising group control means whereby the mechanism is conditioned first for influence by one certain group only of such external conditioning devices and then by another certain group of such conditioning devices, and means for restoring the parts to initial condition.

1 1. A watchmans box comprising register ing means adapted to be advanced progressively together with locking means therefor and control means adapted to be applied to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices and thereby conditioned for operation of said registering means, said locking means comprising a plurality of differentiating means adapted to correspond to means differentiating the several conditioning devices of a group of such devices, one from the other, and comprising further group differentiating means, whereby there may be a plurality of groups of such conditioning devices, wherein inclividual conditioning devices of one group correspond to individual conditioning devices of another group except for group differentiation and whereby after a complete round of operation of the registering means of the box at the several conditioning devices of one group such registering means may be restored, except as to the group differentiation, and operated again at the several conditioning devices of another group.

15. A watchmans box comprising registeringmeans adapted to be advanced progressively together with locking means therefor and control means adapted to be applied to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices and thereby conditioned for operation of said registering means, said locking means comprising a plurality of differentiating means adapted to correspond to means diflerentiating the several conditioning devices of a group of such devices, one from the other, and comprising further group differentiating means, for differentiating between groups of such conditioning devices, and means for restoring the parts to initial condition after actuation of the registering means at all of the conditioning devices of all of the groups.

16. A watchmans box comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with locking means therefor and control means adapted to be applied to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices and thereby conditioned for operation of said registering means, said locking means comprising a plurality of differentiating means adapted to correspond to means differentiating the sev eral conditioning devices of a group of such devices, one from the other, and comprising further group differentiating means, for differentiating between groups of such conditioning devices, and means for restoring the parts to initial condition comprising means whereby the parts may be restored notwithstanding that one of said groups contain a less number of conditioning devices than another.

17. A watchmans box comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with locking means therefor and control means adapted to be applied to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices and thereby conditioned for operation of said registering means, said locking means comprising a plurality of differentiating means adapted to correspond to means differentiating the several conditioning devices of a group one from another, and comprising further means for returning the registering means to initial condition after a round of registering operations.

18. A watchmans box comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with locking means therefor and control means adapted to be applied to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices and thereby conditioned for operation of said registering means, said locking means comprising a plurality of differentiating means adapted to correspond to means differentiating the several conditioning devices of a group one from another, and comprising further means for returning the registering means to initial condition after a round of registering operations, together with means for causing such return after a less number of registering operations in one such round than in another such round.

19. A watchmans box comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with locking means therefor and control means adapted to be applied to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices and thereby conditioned for operation of said registering means, normally inoperable signaling means together with means rendering the same operable after a predetermined number of registering operations, and means actuated by said signaling means for returning said registering means to initial condition.

20. A watchmans box comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with. locking means therefor and control means adapted to be applied to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices and thereby conditioned for operation of said registering means, normally inoperable signaling means together with means rendering the same operable after a predetermined number of registering operations, means for returning said registering means to initial condition, means normally preventing such return during a series of registering operations, and means operated by the signaling means in its operation for permitting the action of such re turn means.

21. A watchmans box comprising registering means adapted to be advanced progressively together with locking means therefor and control means adapted to be applied to one or another of a series of external conditioning devices and thereby conditioned for operation of said registering means, normally inoperable signaling means together with means rendering the same operable after a predetermined number of registering operations, a return spring for said registering means, ratchet mechanism normally preventing return of the registering means, and means operated by said signaling means in its operation for tripping said ratchet mechanism.

22. A watchmans box comprising register mechanism having an operating device, a locking wheel adapted to be operated thereby, a locking bar adapted" to cooperate therewith, means adapted to be engaged by external conditioning devices and comprising a plurality of locking members adapted to be positioned selectively and a notched looking wheelhaving selective notches adapted to be engaged by said locking members, said selectively notched locking wheel in driving connection with said first-mentioned locking wheel, and means for moving said first-mentioned locking wheel axially after a predetermined number of operations.

23. A 'watchmans box comprising register mechanism having an operating device, a locking wheel adapted to be operated thereby, a locking bar adapted to cooperate therewith, means adapted to be engaged by external conditioning devices and comprising a plurality of locking members adapted to be positioned selectively and a notched looking wheel having selective notches adapted to be engaged by said locking members, said selectively notched locking wheel in driving connection with said first-mentioned locking wheel, means for returning said notched locking wheel to initial position at the conclusion of a predetermined number of operations, and means for moving such first-mentioned locking wheel axially upon each such return. i

24. A watchmans box comprising register mechanism having an operating device, a locking wheel adapted to be operated thereby, a locking bar adapted to cooperate therelocking wheel to initial position at the con clusion of a predetermined number of OP: erations, means for moving said first-mentioned locking wheel axially upon each such return, and means for returning axially said first-mentioned locking wheel after a plurality of steps thereof.

25. A watchmans box comprising register mechanism having an operating device, a

locking wheel adapted to be operated thereby, a locking bar adapted to cooperate therewith, means adapted to be engaged by external conditioning devices and comprising a plurality of locking members adapted to be positioned selectively and a notched locking wheelhaving selective notches adapted to be engaged by said locking members, said selectively notched locking wheel in driving connection with said first-mentioned locking wheel, the latter being also movable axially, a shifting bar for so moving it, a worm normally engaged by said bar, and means for rotating said Worm upon each return of the notched locking wheel.

26. A watchmans box comprisingregister mechanism having an operating device, a locking wheel adapted to be operated thereby, a locking bar adapted to cooperate therewith, means adapted to be engaged by ex ternal conditioning devices and comprising a plurality of locking members adapted to be positioned selectively and a notched looking wheel having selective notches adapted to .be engaged by said locking members, said selectively notched locking wheel in driving connection with said first-mentioned locking wheel, the latter being also movable axially, a shifting bar tor so moving it, a worm normally engaged by said bar, means for 'returning said notched locking wheel to initial position at the conclusion of a predetermined number of operations, means for rotating said worm upon each such return of the notched locking wheel, and means for disengaging said shifting bar from said worm and for returning it and the first-mentioned locking wheel after a predetermined number of returns of the notched locking wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 

